Vapor-producing article



March 26, 1968 A. D. BRITE VAPOR-PRODUCING ARTICLE Filed March 22, 1965 I NVENTOR.

,4 77' ORA .5 1 5 United States Patent 3,374,742 VAPOR-PRODUCING ARTICLE Alan D. Brite, 5147 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, 'Calif. 90016 Filed Mar. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 441,657 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-487) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to means for the production of vapors and has particular reference to a vapor-producing composition and article useful in humidifying of air and/or dispersing a vaporizable material or materials 7 into a room or other closed area.

Various devices have heretofore been proposed and used for humidifying air and/ or generating and dispensing vapors such as inhalant materials into the air for various purposes including the treatment of bronchial congestion and other symptoms of the common cold. These devices usually provide for the generation of steam, generally by means of an electric heating element, and are relatively slow-acting and inefficient. Further, they are inconvenient to operate and maintain and if provided with proper and necessary safety features, they are relatively expensive. A primary object of the present invention is to provide novel means for such use which are not subject to these and other disadvantages of those heretofore utilized.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of medicament-containing vaporizer device which is ready for instant use, which is inexpensive yet highly effective and which requires no external power source for use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention it is believed will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the article of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the article.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Briefly, this invention comprehends within its scope the discovery that lime (calcium oxide) or other alkaline earth oxides, when properly treated, can be used as a steam and vapor-generating medium in a vaporizer or like device. Thus, the invention includes a composition comprising an alkaline earth oxide in particulate form coated or impregnated with an oil which is non-reactive or inert with respect to the oxide, e.g., a vegetable or mineral oil, the oil containing a vaporizable inhalant material or mixture of materials such as menthol, thymol, camphor and the like. Upon the simple addition of water to such composition, the water penetrates the oil coating, slowly coming into contact with the alkaline earth oxide with the resultant exothermic reaction, producing steam and vaporizing the inhalant material, the steam and inhalant material being carried into the air. The inhalant material or materials can be omitted for use of the composition as a room humidifying material, or in place of 3,374,742 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 the inhalant material, the oil can contain other vaporizable materials such as deodorants, disinfectants, cosmetic materials and the like.

The invention'also comprehends within its scope an article comprising the above composition received in a throw-away container designed for single-application use.

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred form of the article of the present invention is generally indicated 10, including a generally cylindrical container 11 which may be of metal or formed of resin-impregnated cardboard having a metal bottom 12 and top 13, the top being provided with a central opening 14 having a removable closure 15, the closure preferably being of the breakaway type. Positioned within the container is a coneshaped cup member 16 formed of resin-impregnated paper or other material suitably treated to render it at least temporarily resistant to water. The cup member 16 is open at the top and is provided with one or more relatively small openings 20 adjacent the bottom or apex thereof. The top of the cup member extends just short of the underside of the container top 13 and the apex of the cup member is positioned on the container bottom 12. Stifieners or ribs 27 of cardboard or the like are positioned inside the cup member, the top edges 28 thereof extending just short of the upper edge of the top member, further openings 2711 being provided in the ribs for free passage of water.

The composition 30 of the present invention is contained in the volume of the container between the outer surface of the cup member and the inner surfaces of the container sidewall and bottom. By way ofspecific example, without limiting the invention to the specific details thereof, the composition 30 was made up as follows:

EXAMPLE I Three hundred grams of lime particles inch average size) were coated with 20 grams of Vicks VapoRub (Vick Chemical Company, Division of Richardson-Merrell Inc.) by heating a quantity of the Vicks VapoRu'b to about F. to liquefy the same, and then thoroughly mixing the liquefied material with the lime particles, followed by draining otf the excess liquefied material. Substantially all surfaces of the lime particles were thus provided with an oil (petroleum) coating containing vaporizable inhalant materials.

In use of the article, the closure 15 is removed and water, preferably hot, is poured into the cup member 16 to the approximate level indicated in FIGURE 2. The water slowly passes through the openings 20 and comes into contact with the composition 30, moving progressively upwardly through the composition particles. Within a matter of minutes the water penetrates the oil coating or otherwise comes into contact with the lime particles producing the usual exothermic reaction therewith, forming steam. The heat of reaction causes the vaporizable materials of the oil coating to be released along with the steam. The steam tends to soften the upper portions of the cup member and causes it to collapse inwardly as indicated by the phantom lines of FIGURES 2 and 3.

The mixture of steam and inhalant vapors thus formed rises out of the container opening as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 2 and thence into the room. With the amount of composition indicated in Example I and using otherwise would be a violent reaction between the water and lime or other alkaline earth oxide.

EXAMPLE II The composition'of this example was the same as that of Example I and was produced in the same manner,- except that the 300 grams of lime particles were coated with 25 grams of petroleum jelly containing 0.3 gram camphor, 0.3 gram oil of eucalyptus, 0.2 gram menthol and 0.06 gram thymol.

' EXAMPLE III 4 vapor. It will be further understood that the specific proportions of alkaline earth oxide and oil recited above are not critical and that the proportions may be varied Within rather wide limits, so long as sufiicient alkaline earth oxide is present to react with the water and form the steam and heat necessary to vaporize at least a substantial proportion of any medicament contained in the oil and so long as sufiicient oil is present to coat the oxide particles.

' The composition of the invention may contain other materials in place of the inhalants, such as for example vaporizable disinfectants, vaporizable cosmetic materials for use in treating the complexion, vaporizable deodorants and, in fact, any vaporizable material or materials which are inert or non-reactive with the alkaline earth oxide and the oil. If desired, the oil may be used alone, the oilcoated alkaline earth oxide being used to generate steam for room humidification and like purposes.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. As an article of manufacture for the production of vapors and the like, a small disposable container, said container having walls and an opening in one wall thereof, a removable closure member for said opening, a fluid permeable member disposed in said container, said fluid permeable member being so disposed that a compartment separated from the remainder of the interior of the container is formed, said opening being in registry with the said remainder of the interior of the container, a supply of a composition in said compartment of the container, said composition comprising an alkaline earth oxide in particulate form, said particles being coated with an oil, said oil including a vaporizable inhalant material, said fluid permeable member being adapted to separate the water poured through said opening from said compartment and to permit the passage of the water slowly into of the water into said compartment to control the rate permeable member disposed in said container, said fluid permeable member being so disposed that a compartment separated from the remainder of the interior of the container is formed, said opening being in registry with the said remainder of the interior of the container, a supply of a composition in said compartment of the container, said composition comprising a vaporizable material and an alkaline earth oxide in particulate form and including oil coating to control the rate of the resultant exothermic reaction, said fluid permeable member being adapted to separate the water poured through said opening from the compartment and to permit the passage of the water slowly into said compartment whereby said material is vaporized by the steam generated, and said permeable member having a portion collapsible in response to the pressure of the steam generated within said compartment to allow for discharging said steam and'vapor through said open- 3. As an article of manufacture for the production of vapors and the like, a small disposable container, said container having walls and an opening in one Wall thereof, a removable closure member for said opening, a fluid permeable member disposed in said container, said fluid permeable member being so disposed that a compartment separated from the remainder of the interior of the conof an alkaline earth oxide in particulate form and a vaporizable material in said compartment of the container and including a coating means'on the earth oxide for control ling the rate of exothermic reaction of the earth oxide, said fluid permeable member being adapted to separate the water poured through said opening from said compartment and having small openings to limit the passage of the resultant exothermic reaction whereby steam and vapor may be generated, and said permeable member having a portion collapsible in response to the pressure of the steam generated within said compartment to allow for discharging said steam and vapor through said open- RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

W; E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner. 

